How Nats prepare young outfielders for what they will see in games

How Nats prepare young outfielders for what they will see in games
Here is a list of the young outfielders (and their ages) that were in attendance at Nationals instructional league workouts in October: Andry Arias, 20Gage Canning, 23Justin Connell, 21 Jeremy De La Rosa, 18 Braian Fernandez, 21 Jorge Hurtado, 20 Daniel Marte, 18 Ricardo Mendez, 20 Roismar Quintana, 17 Jake Randa, 22 Cody Wilson, 24 Outfield/baserunning coordinator Gary Thurman worked with these players on the fundamentals the Nats want every outfielder to master as they make their way through...

Nationals coaches boast more than 4,600 big league games of catching experience

Nationals coaches boast more than 4,600 big league games of catching experience
It is a baseball development fact that catchers make good coaches. They are the coordinators behind the plate, they call the plays for the defense, they run the game for the pitcher. Backstops are truly the beginning and the last line of defense in every game, plus they can also contribute on offense. There's a tremendous amount of responsibility on the shoulders of a big league catcher. So from their first days in pro baseball, they must know the game inside and out. The Nationals coaching...

Baseball taking notice of Robles and his game-changing defense

Baseball taking notice of Robles and his game-changing defense
It happened in a flash. With Reds pinch-hitter José Peraza standing at first base, thanks to a walk, center fielder Victor Robles came on for a ball in shallow right field to pick up a single off the bat of Reds outfielder Jesse Winker. Peraza saw how far Robles had to go toward the right field area and took his cue to round second base and charge for third. Robles gathered the ball, and with his momentum still pushing him toward the right field line, turned and fired a strike to third...

Soto's big catch shows defensive improvement

Soto's big catch shows defensive improvement
PHILADELPHIA - Juan Soto continues to do Juan Soto things. This time it was on defense. In the bottom of the fourth Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, the Nationals led 2-0 as the dangerous Rhys Hoskins stepped in against Stephen Strasburg. Hoskins got a hold of a 1-2 88-mph changeup and drove it to deep left field. Soto tracked the ball toward the left field foul pole. He timed his jump perfectly, leaping back, crashing into the wall and making the catch as he fell to the ground. Hoskins was...

Soto's improved defense adds to multi-dimensional talent

Soto's improved defense adds to multi-dimensional talent
A lot has been made of Juan Soto's big bat and his impact on the offense. But within the last two months heading into the All-Star break, Soto has improved on his tracking in the outfield, and his overall defense has excelled. He is making stellar catches and reading balls hit to his area well. Soto is throwing to the correct cutoff area after retrieving base hits. Nationals third base coach Bobby Henley said Soto has an understanding about his position and is learning to take control of a...

Taylor says Robles is learning how to make big plays in outfield

Taylor says Robles is learning how to make big plays in outfield
The education of outfielder Victor Robles has continued as he works toward his first 100 major league games with the Nationals. One big step is Robles learning to trust his ability to make big plays - especially diving catches - without getting hurt. Last time he was in Miami, he got banged around the outfield, making a couple of plays against the wall. Then, later in the season, he made a spectacular diving play heading toward the left-center field wall, diving in a cloud of dust to make the...

The secret intricacies of the Nats' outfield defense

The secret intricacies of the Nats' outfield defense
One way the Nationals assist their young outfielders in preparing for where to set up defensively is outfield positioning cards. The laminated cards, not much bigger than a credit card, fit in the back pocket of their uniform pants. Left fielder Juan Soto and center fielder Victor Robles use the cards to see where they should stand defensively. Terms like "Pull 3" mean Soto should move three steps to his right for a right-handed hitter. "Oppo 6" directs Robles to moves six steps to his...

With foot still sore, Zimmerman backs off running (Nats down 3-1)

With foot still sore, Zimmerman backs off running (Nats down 3-1)
NEW YORK - There's only one regular member of the Nationals lineup still on the injured list, but it looks like he might be there a while longer. Ryan Zimmerman, who had been progressing in his rehab from plantar fasciitis, has backed off after feeling pain in his right foot while attempting to run in recent days. Davey Martinez stopped short of referring to it as a setback. "No, just the normal soreness," the manager said. "We told him to back off. He's been getting extensive treatment on...

Robles learning with each game to get better in center field

Robles learning with each game to get better in center field
The Nationals probably knew it would not be easy for center fielder Victor Robles to just jump into a major league everyday starting role. Even with his five-tool plus-plus ratings and top-prospect accolades, there would be growing pains. It would be a trial by fire in some sense, and it has been. But with every play, the 21-year-old Robles is learning from his mistakes and building to get better. The two biggest points of emphasis for Robles from the first three games of 2019: reads on center...

Eaton tweaks ankle, but expects to return in a day or two

Eaton tweaks ankle, but expects to return in a day or two
It was both a wonderful sight to behold while simultaneously leaving 42,477 people inside Nationals Park holding their collective breaths. Adam Eaton being waved around third base on a double into the left field corner? How long has everyone been waiting for that moment since that fateful night nearly one year ago when the Nationals outfielder tore his left ACL tripping over first base against this same Mets ballclub? The good news: Eaton was safe, thanks to José Reyes' wide relay throw to...

Bobby Henley adds outfield coach to responsibilities

Bobby Henley adds outfield coach to responsibilities
Only one coach was kept from the previous regime: third base coach Bobby Henley, who has been with the organization for more than 20 years, dating to its time in Montreal. It is an important point. Henley is obviously very good at his job, but he also can be a sounding board for the players to help in the transition to the new coaching regime. Henley was thrilled to stay with the Nationals when we caught up with him at Winterfest. "It means a lot. I been here so long," Henley said. "I been...

Hale joining Martinez's staff as bench coach (plus awards note)

Hale joining Martinez's staff as bench coach (plus awards note)
Former Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale will join new Nationals manager Dave Martinez's staff as bench coach, according to multiple published reports. Hale, 52, skippered the D-backs in 2015 and 2016, compiling a 148-176 record (.457) but never finishing higher than third in the National League West in his rookie season. He spent last season as the bench coach on manager Bob Melvin's A's staff and was that club's third base coach for the three seasons before he was hired to pilot the...

Trying to steal signs on the Nats? That is a difficult task

Trying to steal signs on the Nats? That is a difficult task
Manager Dusty Baker calls it the toughest coaching job on the field. It's the job of the third base coach. That coach gets criticized every time a runner is thrown out at the plate and rarely gets the credit when another runner scores. Some fans have taken to calling Nationals third base coach Bobby Henley, "Send-ley," due to his aggressive style. Henley has never worried about that and actually loves to be aggressive with his runners to force the defense to have to make the play. The job is...

The art of hitting by Daniel Murphy

The art of hitting by Daniel Murphy
Second baseman Daniel Murphy has been able to improve his batting average and power numbers each season since signing a free agent deal with the Nationals in January 2016. The escalating hitting numbers are very impressive. His slugging percentage with the Nationals was .595 in 2016 and is .549 in 115 games this season. His best slugging percentage as a regular starter for the Mets was .449 in 2015. His batting average with the Nats was .347 in 2016 and is currently .320 in 2017. Murphy has hit...

Henley says he's unaware of "Send-ley" moniker

Henley says he's unaware of "Send-ley" moniker
HOUSTON - Third base coach Bobby Henley joined the Nationals as third base coach in 2014. He has 23 years experience with the organization, 15 seasons as a coach. He has developed a reputation in some circles as being an aggressive third base coach, catching the moniker of "Send-ley" for his propensity to windmill runners home on balls hit to the outfield. I asked Henley when, if ever, he had heard of the "Send-ley" nickname to represent his coaching style. Henley said he's rarely heard...

Nationals continue home run barrage (Nats win 6-1)

Nationals continue home run barrage (Nats win 6-1)
CINCINNATI - Well, that didn't take long. Three batters into the game, the Nationals had a 3-0 lead over the Reds courtesy of a Bryce Harper home run. Brian Goodwin doubled, Stephen Drew singled and Harper crushed his 23rd homer of the season over the wall in right field. The blast extended Harper's hitting streak to 12 games and his on-base streak to 20 games. Reds right-hander Scott Feldman's next pitch, to Ryan Zimmerman, was deposited into the seats in left for a solo homer. It was...

Pedro Severino ready to embrace next challenge of NLDS

Pedro Severino ready to embrace next challenge of NLDS
Nationals 23-year-old catcher Pedro Severino started playing baseball in the infield until a coach recommended he become a catcher. That's where Severino realized how good he was at throwing runners out and how he enjoyed the moment so much. During the Marlins series to end the season, Severino threw a runner out at second base and could be seen on MASN cameras nodding his head several times in agreement when the runner was called out. "When I was 14 years old I was third baseman," Severino...

Knorr, LeCroy and Henley stay with Nationals in new roles, Daubach promoted

Knorr, LeCroy and Henley stay with Nationals in new roles, Daubach promoted
The Nationals announced Monday that three of the coaches that did not have their contracts renewed with the major league club will stay in the organization in different roles. Former bench coach Randy Knorr assumes the position of senior assistant to the general manager, player development. Knorr brings a wealth of knowledge and minor league managerial and coaching experience with the Nationals to the position, which will be critical to maintaining cohesion within the system. Knorr managed the...

Derek Norris looks back at time with Nats as important to his MLB development

Derek Norris looks back at time with Nats as important to his MLB development
The Nationals are taking on the Padres this week and there has been talk about rookies Trea Turner and Joe Ross playing for the first time against the team that drafted them. But San Diego also has a starting catcher/first baseman in Derek Norris who began his career in the Nationals system and was drafted by the team in 2007 as a fourth-round selection. Norris played five seasons (2007-2011) in the Nationals organization, reaching Double-A Harrisburg, before being traded to the Oakland A's in...

Nationals will retain entire coaching staff for 2015

Nationals will retain entire coaching staff for 2015
A day after Matt Williams won National League Manager of the Year honors, the Nationals announced that they will welcome back his entire coaching staff from the 2014 season. All seven members of the Nats coaching staff - bench coach Randy Knorr, pitching coach Steve McCatty, hitting coach Rick Schu, third base coach Bobby Henley, first base coach Tony Tarasco, bullpen coach Matt LeCroy and defensive coordinator/advance coach Mark Weidemaier - will be back in 2015. This marks the first time...